I just feel so lucky to get an E-Arc of Alliana Girl of Dragons by the talented Julie Abe. Allians is a Japanese retelling of Cinderella with Dragons yep you read it right. There were dragons which made the story so much more interesting. If you expecting a prince come knight in shining armour rescuing the MC then you are reading the wrong book. There is none of that slushy nonsense instead you get a found family made up of witches, wizards and dragons well one main one called Kabo who loved Alliana who she was and what she could become. Thank you Julie for writing this book and showing young girls and women of my age that anyone can be a hero with the right love and support. My only criticism and why it only got 4 stars is I would of loved to see more of Kabo and Ryuji. Maybe a sequel about them would be great and a visit to see how Alliana is doing?

This book was delightful and such a fun read. I loved that it had connections to this previous series eva evergren cause it folows her monther. I also really loved how this world was explored and epanded it a tad. This story was such a fun take a on a cinderella twist and this book focued so much on found family and also just a fun quest story. This book also had a great realtionship between her an animals. I also loved all the side characters as well!! It was a super fun read and one that made me cry both happy tears and and upset tears such a cute read!!

When I saw the ‘Dragon’ in the book title, I was immediately interested. Dragons are and will always be my favorite magical creatures, so obviously I had to read this book. And you know what? I really enjoyed it.

This is a Japanese Cinderella Retelling, and our main character Alliana finds her world crumbling around her. Her grandmother just passed away, and her stepmother is awful to her. After some time, she makes the acquaintance of a dragon and a young witch, and so her story begins.

I loved the writing style of Abe and despite not having read the other books in the Evergreen series, I had no troubles following the story. “Alliana, Girl of Dragons” is a lighthearted read and even has some action scenes to spice the whole reading up.

This is a great middle grade fantasy novel and I think all of our young readers out there should pick it up because it is simply an amazing read.

Alliana, Girl of Dragons is inspired by the Japanese Cinderella story and is a prequel to the Eva Evergreen series. I really enjoyed reading the Eva series so I was excited to read this one! There are some wonderful characters in this story! Alliana is a kind hearted person and I really enjoyed the bonds between her and Mari and Nela. I definitely rooted for Alliana throughout the story! Hopefully there will be another book for Alliana. There is so much more to her story and I can't wait to see more of her dragon!

Alliana, Girl of Dragons is a Cinderella retelling where Studio Ghibli meets How to Train Your Dragon. This middle grade release is a Japanese-inspired fantasy full of familiar fairy tale elements, magical creatures and sweet intergenerational relationships.

Alliana is just a fun and magical story that's perfect for readings looking for a whimsical and lighthearted read. I somehow completely missed the fact Alliana was a retelling when I picked it up, but I figured it out pretty quickly.

The best part of the story is Alliana's relationship with Stepmother's mother-in-law, Grandmother Mari. In her acknowledgements, Julie Abe says "the heart of Alliana was sparked by my own Grandmother Mari. I miss you, I love you, I miss you. There are never enough chapters to explain what you mean to me, but I hope this is a start." She writes with such warmth and her affection for her own grandmother spills out onto the page, creating a charming and captivating relationship between Alliana and Grandmother Mari. Family is very much at the heart of the story, and the sweet relationship between the two is definitely the highlight for me.

Now for the not-so-good news. There were a few areas that I think can definitely benefit from some more work. While I'm proof that you can read Alliana without knowing anything about the Eva Evergreen series, I wonder if I missed out on some of the magic but jumping straight into the world. The worldbuilding is sparse and just falls kind of flat. I'm not sure if the universe Abe creates is more developed and fleshed out in the other Eva books, but we only get brief mentions of the magical world the story's set in. It's a shame because the glimpses we do get of the setting make it seem like a fun and magical place to explore.

The story itself is a bit disjointed at times. The first half of the book moves pretty slowly, and certain plot points are introduced and dropped on a whim. Example: the whole thing with Grandma Mari's crystal necklace. Stepmother makes a big deal about how much she wants it but just when it seems like it's going to play a central role in the plot, the issue is completely forgotten. Also, if you're gonna put "dragons" in the title, there should be more dragons. The dragon feels more like a recurring character than an integral part of the story which is, you know, named after him.

There are a couple of time jumps which contribute to the scattered storytelling and doesn't do the characters any favors. In general, the cast is relatively one-dimensional and underwhelming. I'm guessing the trio of witches and wizards are familiar to Eva fans, and while they seem like a group of characters I'd love, we don't spend enough time with them for me to really form an opinion on them one way or another. Even Alliana's character development feels like it could benefit from a little extra time and attention.

Hello! I hope everyone’s August is off to a good start! I recently finished Alliana Girl of Dragons as part of a book tour! I signed up for the Instagram tour but I liked Alliana so much I wanted to share on here as well! Alliana released on August 2nd, so you can grab a copy now wherever books are sold.
(These are my honest opinions, uninfluenced by the publisher or TBR and Beyond Tours) ps before you continue this post was written by Covid brain Brooke so I apologize in advance ❤️


QOTD: Do you like books with dragons?

Mini Review –
Alliana Girl of Dragons follows the Cinderella-esque story of Alliana, a girl who meets a dragon that will change her life. Set in a fictional Japanese realm, Julie Abe uses elegant writing to capture the readers attention! ALLIANA is perfect for fans of the Castle Glower series.

This book was a Disney movie in book form! It reminds me of the Twisted Tale series if it were middle grade. Alliana was entirely unique!

If I was 10 when I read this book I would have ate. It. Up. And left no crumbs. Dragons, witches, an evil step-mother, say less!

My playlist for Alliana –
A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella
Umbrella by Rihanna
Fight Song by Rachel Platten
Headspace by Riley Clemmons
Egotistic by Mamamoo

I would put a few Taylor Swift songs on here but that would spoil the book! This book was enchanting, just like folklore and evermore!

Alliana was full of amazing quotes, plus, each chapter has a cute name! Quotes –

“Words are beyond precious. We think we trade in silver and gold but words are the currency of our lives…”

“Once upon a time…”

“I am more than a girl of dust. I am not going to be forgotten. This is not where my story ends.”

“Fire burned in Alliana’s heart.”

This book had an advanced writing style for being a middle grade book and it took me a few chapters to get into it but once I got into it I finished Alliana Girl of Dragons in a day!

I’m very excited to read Abe’s YA novel which hopefully has the same beautiful writing that Alliana did!

Until the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Abe, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the opportunity to review an ARC of Alliana Girl of Dragons.

“We think we trade in gold and silver, but words are the currency of our lives.”

“Just because a rule’s been in place doesn’t mean that it should stay there forever. Or that we should follow it blindly.”

“She knew all too well that things often didn’t match what they seemed on the surface, or what everyone else said about them.”

This book is a middle grade standalone retelling of the Japanese Cinderella. I found this book to be the type of fantasy that I could escape into for awhile and thoroughly enjoy. The detailed descriptions of characters, places, and events allowed to to vividly imagine them and I almost felt like I was there. Some of my favorite moments were Alliana’s interactions with her grandmother and her friends. Some of the imagery is very beautiful, while other moments, like Alliana’s interactions with her stepmother and brother, are harsh. I love that this book allows readers to experience a range of emotions.

Beyond the vivid descriptions, I found quite a few passages that made me stop and think for a moment. There were many quotes that resonated with me and I appreciate that so much wisdom was shared in a book for middle grade readers.

I enjoyed the world and characters in this book so much that I find myself wanting more and wishing that it wasn’t a standalone. This is a book that I’ll absolutely be recommending to fans of fantasy, adventure, and fairy tales.

I ADORE this book!

"Sometimes, we may be in a magical tale but not even know it until far, far afterward".

This story follows Alliana. She lives and works at the inn her stepmother owns trying to pay off her debt so that she can leave. She has dreams to attend the Royal Academy, but to do this, one most attend the annual ball where a royal advisor will be with a scrying witch or wizard who will determine who qualifies to attend. She thinks she may be able to go, until her Grandmother Mari dies suddenly and leaves her with a letter asking her to take care of her step family. Alliana thinks she must stay for her Grandmother, even if she does not want to. Then some interesting things occur to Alliana. First, she finds a young dragon which are feared amongst the humans. She hides him and takes care of him in secret. Second, one day she meets a young witch called Nelalithimus Evergreen, or Nela, a very bubbly and adorable witch who believes Alliana can help her and her crew to help with the Abyss, where many dangerous and horrifying creatures live. Alliana begins to experience the world outside of the inn and crave it, but will her stepmother prevent her from ever truly being free?

This is a Japanese Cinderella retelling, and I think it was well done! I loved the Cinderella references in this book, I adored the little dragon, and of course I adored Nela Evergreen! I know some mentioned in their reviews they're disappointed there was not more reference to dragons in this book, and I can see why, but I think the overall story made up for it. It really is about Alliana, and she does have her little dragon companion, but it is ultimately about this girl who learns about how big the world is and how she wants to be a part of it and how she needs to overcome her fear of her stepmother and her guilt to leave thinking her Grandmother would not want that. I love the friendships she develops with Nela(who is seriously adorable and so much fun!), Isao, Taichi and Hayato. Her and Nela are adorable together and you can see how their friendship just blossoms, and I love watching Alliana grow and have this determination to have that freedom she deserves.

I've not read the other books in this same world, but after reading this, I probably will! I love the world, and the people and creatures in it. This was a well written Cinderella retelling that has a found family, and even maybe potential young love in there...anyways, if you love retellings, and dragons, I recommend this one for you!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and TBR Beyond Tours for the free copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Alliana, Girl of Dragons is a companion/prequel novel to the Eva Evergreen books. As such, it can be read as a stand-alone, but readers familiar with Eva’s adventures will recognize some familiar characters, including Eva’s mother Nela, and learn a bit about their backstories.
I love the world Abe created in the Eva Evergreen books, so it’s fun to get more of it here, especially set decades prior to those books to give a real sense of history and lore. And the Japanese influences, while still on the more subtle side, come through more here as this story is inspired by the Japanese version of Cinderella.
I did feel at times that the somewhat familiar story structure made the story feel a bit more predictable at times, but Abe still managed to provide a few new twists to keep it interesting.
Alliana is definitely what you expect from your “Cinderella” type figure: she’s brave and true, and focused on her dreams of attending an elite royal academy, in spite of any obstacles her stepmother and stepsiblings throw at her.
She does have help from a few sympathetic friends, including an awesome dragon companion, Kabo, who absolutely steals the show. And it’s quite sweet to see the origins of her friendship with Nela Evergreen, who is a young novice witch in the book.
This is a charming addition to the Eva Evergreen world, and will delight readers who enjoyed the prior books. It’s also a fun, fairly light read for anyone looking for a fairy tale-inspired middle grade read.

Thank you Netgalley, TBR and Beyond Tours and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange of a honest review!

This book is literally the best things I've read in quite a while! This was so sweet and light-hearted at the same time, and I really appreciated the aspect of not all villains gotta be evil demon lords, afterall, they might be living under the same roof as you and you wouldn't suspect a thing!

I'm definitely picking up Eva Evergreen now that I've read and loved this!

There is so much to enjoy in this Japanese Cinderella-inspired story, including a friendly dragon and heartwarming friendships.

This story will feel familiar to anyone who knows the classic fairytale.

Alliana’s father passed away several years ago and she was left in the care of her stepmother. Of course, life is far from simple for Alliana. Her stepmother is cruel and controlling, and her stepsiblings aren’t any better. All three of them are determined to make Alliana’s life as miserable as they can. She’s forced to take care of them, clean, and run errands all day long with barely any food.

There are two things that keep her going: her grandmother and her dream that she’ll leave this town behind and stand on her own two feet.

I loved Alliana and admired her bravery most. Despite her young age, she showed a lot of courage when she had to stick by her stepfamily’s side with the way she was being treated. She remained kind and loving even after everything life continued to throw at her. Reading her growth throughout the story put a huge smile on my face!

Life takes a turn for the young girl and she’s presented with a choice to stay in this town or leave it all behind. You would think it would be a simple answer, but it’s a lot harder for her to choose because of certain circumstances.

There are a lot of challenges that Alliana faces throughout the story but she meets some amazing people along the journey. Including a dragon and a witch that make the story extra fun! This is the first book that I’ve read by Julie Abe and I really enjoyed how exciting it was to read about all the magic and creatures in this world.

'Alliana, Girl of Dragons' is a book that will give a lot of hope and reassurance to young readers. This story is for anyone who feels like their dreams are so far from their reach or those that feel alone. Alliana is just an average girl, but she never gives up and her adventure will help readers fight for their own dreams!

Things I loved:
- continues the theme of strong female characters in the Eva Evergreen series
- very Japanese Cinderella, and a related read would be Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
- provides justice (legal, social, and financial) to years of abuse by the stepmother
- highlights importance of workers
- great commentary on laws, freedom, and priorities

Really loved this middle grade Cinderella retelling by author Julie Abe!

I think the thing I loved the most about this retelling is there is no romance! No prince, just a focus on the journey that Alliana takes as she gets older and has to choose how to deal with her horrible stepmother and step brother.

I love Alliana's strength and courage! Her relationship with her dragon found family is so lovely I enjoyed the dragon lore of thunders and being able to communicate. Even the "evil" dragon was such a cool character, I love the resolution of the final battle!

Overal, Alliana, Girl of Dragons was a fantastic middle grade fantasy novel!

Alliana, having lost her father in an accident, is made to work as an indentured servant in her stepmother’s inn, racking up debt for ridiculous infractions that her step-family conjure. Alliana’s one saving grace: her Grandmother Mari. But when Grandmother Mari passed away, her final words were to take care of her stepmother and step siblings. To honour her grandmother, Alliana dedicates her life to caring for her wretched family and hoping for the day she can attend the Farmlands Ball for a chance to attend the Royal Academy and escape the wickedness of her life. Along the way, Alianna rescues a nightdragon and meets Nela, a witch! This is the catalyst for a series of events that will change her life in ways she could never imagine.

A Cinderella retelling peppered with some Japanese elements, Alliana, Girl of Dragons, suffers the most plot-wise. I’m not entirely sure which version of the Japanese Cinderella story that Alliana, Girl of Dragons draws inspiration from but I’m guessing it’s a blend between Chujo-hime and Hachikazuki. The former features a folk legend who is taken in by Buddhist nuns after being abandoned by her stepmother and is credited with inventing the art of embroidery while the latter is a more typical Cinderella variation where the main character is made to wear a wooden bowl by her stepmother in order to hide her beauty.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s quite a nice retelling and a breath of fresh air from your typical interpretations. This one sticks fairly close to its source material sans Prince Charming. However, it suffers because the story is constrained by its very source material. It seemed to feel obligated to stick closely to the original tale, leaving it without much creative license and it’s own interpretation. Furthermore, the plot features a lot of Alliana’s day to day life, especially her chores which barely contributed to the overall plot. The story takes quite some time to progress so by the time the climax comes along, I’m already exhausted and not quite feeling the right excitement and emotions. The ending also felt very rushed compared to the pacing in the rest of the book.

Also, for a book titled Girl of Dragons, there is a marked lack of dragons, including the sole dragon we are introduced to. But, it does seem like it’s gearing up for a sequel where I hope we see way more dragons.

And this is just a personal thing but I’m not a huge fan of time jumps in books unless there is a good reason for it and Alliana, Girl of Dragons features one.

Much like a fairytale, the characters in Alliana, Girl of Dragons are fairly one-dimensional and almost cartoonish, including the titular character herself. I think the characters lacked a lot of depth, probably brought on by the fact that a lot of the page space is taken up by Alliana doing chores. I rather liked Alliana and I thought she was sweet but a little dense. Her heart is in all the right places and she’s loyal to a fault. For someone desperate to be in charge of her future, she rarely takes any opportunity to escape her circumstances. Her reasons for staying felt wholly unjustified and I’m sure Alliana felt the same way as well. Nothing could convince me why she continued staying with her stepfamily the moment Grandmother Mari passed away. It would be a completely different and more compelling story had Alliana dropped everything and confronted her future. She often sits around waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen, turning her into a rather dull character. Due to this, I also felt that by the end of the story, Alliana herself is fairly unchanged in terms of characterisation. I felt she barely had any growth despite everything that has happened to her. I didn’t share in her joys nor in her sadness.

We also have a bevy of side characters who both aid and ail Alliana. Below are a few notable ones:

- Nela: Nela is a junior witch who patrols the magical border near Alliana’s village and ends up seeking her help. Bubbly and charming, Nela is the helping hand Alliana has always needed to experience a life outside of the drudgery she is used to.

- Isao: Alliana’s best friend, Isao has always dreamed of an apprenticeship at a bakery. That is unfortunately the extent to which his personality extends: a baker and a friend

- Grandmother Mari: Kind and thoughtful, Grandmother Mari takes Alliana under her wing even though she isn’t her blood relation. She’s an eldery woman who lives in the attic and is a good seamstress.

- Mistress Enokida: Alliana’s stepmother, Mistress Enokida is a cartoonish villain. She has zero dimension to her and is constantly mean, mean, mean. Her character is quite unbelievable as she has no other motivation than to make Alliana work for her so she doesn’t have to.

- Reizo and Reina: Alliana’s step siblings, Reizo and Reina are also painfully one dimensional. Reizo is a mirror image of his mother, purposefully taunting Alliana and making her life miserable for no other reason except that he can. Reina is his complete opposite. She is air-headed and not quite all there. She’s kind to Alliana but she also benefits in her indenturement.

- Kabo: The night dragon that Alliana rescues and nurses back to health, not much is demonstrated about the dragon’s characteristics except that he is fiercely loyal, as a dragon should be.

I’m not a huge fan of the black and white nature of these characters and I’m not entirely sure if this is more fairly common with Middle Grade books but characters are always more compelling and they make a story more interesting when they come in shades of grey. For example, Mistress Enokida is definitely a villain but more could be done to her story in order to make her actions more sinister rather than constantly describing her vinegar breath, her penchant for sweet things and her frivolous nature with clothes. These qualities, while they make her a unique character, do nothing for her characterisation other than make her rather cartoonish.

Due to the plot constraints as well as being told solely from Alliana’s perspective, the worldbuilding can come off as rather limited. We see the world mostly from her eyes. We barely learn about the dragons and the creatures beyond the veil that protects them from the abyss. Nor, do we learn more about Nela’s powers or what Alliana’s dream of attending the Royal Academy would entail. But I did love the lush lands that Alliana describes surrounding her stepmother’s inn and in the last 10-20% of the book, I rather loved the potential that we have at learning more about what’s beyond Narashino and Alliana’s homelands.

In other aspects, for a book that’s touted as a Japanese Cinderella, it’s a little light on the Japanese elements. I think the inn was a rather nice touch, I imagined it rather much like a ryokan in a Hayao Miyazaki style as well as the food that Alliana eats, specifically natto and rice. But I would rather have seen more of the social intricacies of Japanese culture or more cultural aspects that would truly set apart Alliana, Girl of Dragons in a more Asian style. With the prevalence or Asian Own Voices books and stories these days, it is not enough to sprinkle some spice but to truly saturate your work in it.

To sum it all up, Alliana, Girl of Dragons was an endearing read. I loved seeing Alliana triumph over her evil stepmother and her stepsiblings while finding the strength to pursue her dreams and goals. I loved the friendships that she’s made and I thought the book was rather charming. But there are quite a few things lacking that made the reading experience not as enjoyable as I wished it would have been, especially for an Own Voices story. However, I am definitely looking forward to what comes next in Alliana’s story!

"I am more than a girl of dust. I am not going to be forgotten. This is not where my story ends."

Hi, and welcome to the show where you'll see my teeth gnashing in anger, and my heart shattering into a million pieces. In this episode, I'll be going through a myriad of emotions while I tell you about Julie Abe's newest book.

Alliana, Girl of Dragons, is a Japanese Cinderella story but at heart, it's the story of a girl who wants nothing more than to find her place in the world. After the disappearance of her father, she's stuck working at the inn with her step-mother and step-siblings. They work her to the bone, and they're unapologetic about it. Alliana's only refuge is her grandmother from her stepmother's ex-husband and her friend, an aspiring baker. After her grandmother's death, Alliana is left with a note asking her not to leave her only family behind, despite their ill intentions. Much to my chagrin, she stays and endures their cruelty until one day she finds a baby night dragon and a young witch named Nela and her world suddenly takes a turn.

Can I just say how much I wanted to reach into my kindle and shake Alliana's stepbrother? He is infuriating and the author has written him and his stepmother perfectly. Alliana endures so much and I admire her restraint (I cannot say I react very well to any injustices). I did love seeing her overcome her struggles and break out into her own. She only wants to honor her grandmother's wishes, but gosh, were they aggravating!

This is set in the same world as Eva Evergreen, where some people are magical and some are not. There is magic, which adds to the wonderful story. My only qualm is that I wanted to see Alliana bond a bit more with Kabo, the night dragon. Also, more dragons. More of them. haha

I cheered at the end like literally dropped my kindle and clapped. I rooted so hard for Alliana and her friends and wanted to gather them all into squishy hugs by the time the resolution came.

This book took me on a journey of emotions and I may never recover! I hope to God there is a book two because I need to know some things and I CAN NOT LIVE LIKE THIS.

As a huge fan of the Eva Evergreen duology, I knew I had to read this book! Although this takes place in the same universe, you don't have to have read Eva Evergreen to understand the story, but is fun to see familiar foods, places, and faces while reading. Based on the title, I'd anticipated more than just two dragons appearing, so I hope that this is a first in a duo like with Eva.

Retellings are always so fun, and it was exciting to see where the familiar story deviated from the original. With themes of determining one's own destiny and chosen family, this was a pretty strong character focused story, filled with characters you want to root for and friendships you wish you had. Alliana, Nela, Isao, Grandmother Mari, and Kabo cheered each other on and looked out for one another, and I would read a hundred more stories about them.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Not me almost crying while reading this book.
Wow such a beautiful book. Brimming with hope and love, I loved this!

4 stars!

A new retelling of Cinderella mixed in with Japanese elements. The story follows a girl who is abused by her step family and dreams about a future for herself. Alliana’s parents have died and the only person she holds dear to her is her grandmother and when her grandmother dies...and leaves behind a note that asks her to look after her stepfamily Alliana’s dreams and hopes are crushed. She thought her grandmother would want more for her, but she loves her grandmother so much she can’t leave her family despite all the abuses she suffers. One day she discovers a nightdragon who she discovers she can magically talk to and she also meets a young witch naed Nela. Soon Alliana will have to make decisions about what she wants her future to be. Nela needs her help to navigate the mysterious abyss. a place that Alliana knows by heart. This is Alliana’s chance to break free from her stepfamily but the question is, is she brave enough to risk it all. This is a story about toxic relationships, about enduring abuse and finding the strength to break from it. Alliana suffers a lot throughout the book for such a young girl. She dreams about having a family. about having people who care for her and love her, and where she can be free. This book is set in the same world as the Evergreen series but the story can be read as a standalone. This was an interesting take on the classic story!

*Thanks Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Cinderella meets dragons.

Alliana's father died several years ago, leaving her in the care of her stepmother, a selfish woman who treats Alliana worse than a servant. Forced to clean and mend night and day while her stepmother and stepsiblings live happily off her labor, Alliana dreams of her one chance for a better life - the regional ball, where every 12 year old is presented for a chance to be chosen to attend the royal academy.

This book was a Cinderella retelling with Japanese elements and a friendly dragon. It was a nice spin on the Cinderella story, and even though the plot was predictable, it was an enjoyable journey.

While the story had dark moments, where Alliana was bullied by her step family, it also had great friendships and a really nice grandmotherly relationship with her stepmother's mother-in-law. I thought there would be more magical creatures from the abyss here, but aside from a dragon and some pest problems, the story focused more on Alliana's evil step family. I think the story could've benefited from a slower pace, spending more time with the dragon and with her friends. Most of the side characters popped onto the page and flew right off, despite the time Alliana spent helping them. But this is a middle grade book, so it was understandably less complex than it could've been. I think this would be great for fans of Shannon Hales' Princess Academy and the Goose Girl series.

For years, Alliana and her friend, a local boy also stuck serving a bad master, both dreamed of leaving their tiny town and evil guardians. But their dreams remained dreams while they each worked harder with no hope in sight, until one day a witch flies into town. Alliana is still stuck serving her evil stepmother and her bullying step siblings, but maybe with some magic and the help of good friends, Alliana can change her own future.

As a lover of all things Japanese-related, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It has the perfect blend of Japanese culture along with every genre a middle grader would want to read ranging from dragons and adventure to risks. This novel was the first time I read Abe's writing, and now that I've had a taste for it, I'm adding the "Eva Evergreen" series to my tbr shelf.